Returns On Capital At 1&1 Drillisch (ETR:DRI) Have Stalled

There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. So, when we ran our eye over 1&1 Drillisch's (ETR:DRI) trend of ROCE, we liked what we saw.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it?

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for 1&1 Drillisch, this is the formula:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.12 = €759m ÷ (€6.8b - €607m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2020).

So, 1&1 Drillisch has an ROCE of 12%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Wireless Telecom industry average of 8.4% it's much better.

Check out our latest analysis for 1&1 Drillisch

Above you can see how the current ROCE for 1&1 Drillisch compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering 1&1 Drillisch here for free.

What Can We Tell From 1&1 Drillisch's ROCE Trend?

The trend of ROCE doesn't stand out much, but returns on a whole are decent. The company has employed 56% more capital in the last three years, and the returns on that capital have remained stable at 12%. Since 12% is a moderate ROCE though, it's good to see a business can continue to reinvest at these decent rates of return. Stable returns in this ballpark can be unexciting, but if they can be maintained over the long run, they often provide nice rewards to shareholders.

In Conclusion...

To sum it up, 1&1 Drillisch has simply been reinvesting capital steadily, at those decent rates of return. However, despite the favorable fundamentals, the stock has fallen 54% over the last three years, so there might be an opportunity here for astute investors. That's why we think it'd be worthwhile to look further into this stock given the fundamentals are appealing.

Like most companies, 1&1 Drillisch does come with some risks, and we've found 1 warning sign that you should be aware of.

If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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